"Drug trafficking, drug abuse, and organized crime are major threats to the well-being of our societies. To combat this threat, we must strengthen our respective law enforcement strategies and institutions, as well as develop closer and more trusting bilateral and multilateral cooperation."

President George W. Bush
February 16, 2001

The law enforcement relationship with Mexico is evolving into a solid partnership. The Fox Administration has launched a major effort to root
out corruption, and has had several early successes.

Our two governments are committed to
strengthening our law enforcement cooperation. Together, we
are increasing "confidence and competence" through training and
technical exchanges and improved information sharing. An example of an
excellent collaborative effort was Operation Marquis, a joint operation
that severely disrupted a major narcotics smuggling organization
operating out of Nuevo Laredo in Mexico. As a result of
Operation Marquis, law enforcement officials arrested over 80 suspects
in major American cities and in Mexico.

The government of Mexico has also achieved
notable success this year with the arrest of a former governor of the
State of Quintana Roo, who was suspected of assisting in the
transshipment of multi-ton shipments of cocaine from South America to
the U.S. They also arrested Gilberto Garcia Mena, suspected
leader of the Gulf Cartel, and Alcides Ramon Magana, a known drug
kingpin.